Flow integrator and recorder



May 24,1927.

C. PUCClONi .FLOW INTEGRATOR AND RECORDER Filed Dec. 28, 1925 5Sheets-Sheet 1 May 24, 1927.

1,630,134 6 Pucsscm FLOW INTEGRATOR AND RECORDER Filed Dec. 28, 1923 s.Sheets-Sheet 2 Im QrZEJ 6 P4460 1 0111:

May '24, 1927. 1,630,134

C. PUCCION I FLOW INTEGRATOR AND RECORDER Filed Dec. 28, 192-3 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 24, 1927.

OFFICE.

CORRADO PUCCIONI, or ROME, ITALY.

FLOW INTEGRATOR AND RECORDER.

Application filed December 28, 1923, Serial No. 683,249, and in ItalySeptember 8, 1923.

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus the object ofwhich is the direct indication and registration of the quantity of waterper second in open channels regardless of their conditions of level andspeed even if these two elements are changing independently one from theother, the functioning of the apparatus only requiring the regulation ofsome constants of the apparatus itself in relation to thecharacteristics of the channel.

This object is attained:

1. Without any loss of pressure head as it takes place with registeringapparatus based on the measurement of the height of overflowing water.

QLlVithout the measurement being influenced by the changing conditionsof friction of the water in the channel or by depressions or overflowingor water as it happens with apparatus based on the measurement of level;

3. \Vithout having recourse to any special disposition in the tract ,ofthe channel where the apparatus is placed, provided the channel in saidtract preserves its section and. has no sudden change of direction.

It is well known that the measurement of the quantity of water isimportant:

1. For fiscal verifications, to verify the quantities of waterpositively derived;

2. To gather statistics on the available quantities of water to bederived from the channel and on the quantities of water of the rivergenerally to be easily deduced from the quantities of water derived fromthe channel; a

8. For management controls as for instance: verification of the frictionconditions of the channel by comparing the levels with the quantities ofwater; control of manoeuvring for the regulation ot the quantity ofwater; in case there is a reservoirfeeding the channel or ted by thesame. verification ot the losses or alterations of the reservoirscapacity by comparing the levels reached in the reservoir with thequantities of water flown into or out of the same.

The apparatus according to the invention dcduces the quantity of waterof the channel directly from the value -S- of the liquid section fromthe maximum velocity V;, and from the proportion K between mean andmaximum velocity, quantities, which multiplied with each other give justthe quantity of water, the multiplication being executed by the sameapparatus.

The apparatus forming the subject matter of the invention consists inthe combination of:

1. A device for measurement of maximum velocity driven by a bladeimmersed in the current and deviated by the same;

2. A device for measurement oi the liquid section S of the channeldriven by a.

float. Both devices mentioned are united and are easily applicable toany channel.

8. A recording device of the quantities off water comprising thenecessary organs:

((0) To convert the deviation of the blade in a displacementproportioned to the maximum velocity V (6) To convert the precedingdisplacement in a displacement proportioned to the middle velocity Vmultiplying it with the proportion K (function of the level but ingeneral practically constant for every channel) between minimum andmaximum velocity;

(0) To convert the displacement of the float owing to variations oflevel in a displacement proportioned to the liquid section S of thechannel;

(d) To multiply the displacements (b) and (0) with each other and obtaina resulting displacement proportioned to the quantity of water.

(6) To render registrable the preceding displacement convenientlyreduced on a fixed. clock-work roller;

I To control the following integrator.

i. integrating device or integrator with :1 planimetric wheel to measurethe surface of the diagram of the quantity of water and then the totalout-flowing volumes in.- dicated by an integrator designed for thispurpose.

The invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the recording and operating apparatusmounted on a rrame. i

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a frontelevation partly in section of the recording apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a top view partly in section of the recording apparatus shownin Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side View partly in section of the recording apparatus shownin F ig. 3 together with a portion of the device for operating theapparatus.

for

measurement of maximum velocity.

Device together a species of pendulum tending to be carried back to theposition of restby the action of its own-weight or eventually in specialcases by an antagonistic spring or a lever with a counterweight.

The shape of the blade is designed in such a way as to obtainfor eachinclinatlon the best possible adhesion of the liquid vein with theobject of avoiding the formation of any whirling, by which the deviationwould become unstable, moreover to cause the pendulum to acquire asensitiveness ap proximately uniform at the different veloc1 ties.

In fact the stress to which the blade is exposed varies approximately inproportion to the square of the velocity and PIOJBClZlOn of the blade ona plane perpendicular to the direction of the current. But when thevelocity is increasing, as the deviation of the blade also augments,said projection will diminish and the arm of the couple by which thestress produced by the impact of the water acts on the pendulum alsodiminishes. These two facts united already tend to correct the quadraticlaw of the increase of the stress according to velocities andconsequently the deviation of the blade approximately obeys a lawproportional to the velocity. This approximation is caused to increaseby the shape of the blade the fore surface of which roughly consists oftwo planes connected by a curved surface, one of which is in theposition at rest of the blade perpendicular to the current, the otheralready possessing an initial inclination,.so that its projection whenthe deviations are the greatest approaches zero.

The blade is then rotatable around the suspension rod, this allowing toincrease or diminish such effect according to the desire to have asensitiveness at the highest velocities.

The axle A is movable up or down according to level variations, the axlebeing borne by a frame T made of an iron pipe rotating around thehorizontal axle B controlled by a float G hinge-jointed to the extremityD of the frame. The position of the axle A on the movable frame is fixedin such a way as to keep a convenient immersion of the blade in anycondition whatever of the level of the channel.

The immersion is regulated in such a manner that the blade is alwayspushed by the stream oi water of greatest velocity, because in suchconditions the proportion between middle velocity and the velocitystriking the blade is constant for the greater part of channels; in anycase the proportion is settled according to each level as it will beproved further on.

The deviation of the blade P (Figs. 1 and 2) for measuring the maximumvelocity is transmitted from the sleeve A (forming the pendulum hub)rotatable on the suspension axle A, to the sleeve B by means of aparallelogram A A and B B consisting of two equal levers AA and B Bconnected by a rod B A the length of which is equal to the distance B A.

The sleeve B (Fig. 5) rotates by means of ball hearings on concentricaxle B rigidly connected with the frame '1 to which the float is united.

It is evident that whatever may be the position of the suspension rod A,according to the water level A A will always be parallel to B Bconsequently the variations of the deviation angle of the blade willalways be transformed in exactly equal rotations of the sleeve B 011 thesleeve B is mounted a toothed-sector R (Fig. 5) engaging a pinion 1'.The ratio of the two gears is 6 to 1. Therefore the maximum deviation ofthe blade allowed being about 45, the maximum rotation of a pinion 1 isabout 45 (6:270. On the same axle E of the pinion is mounted, arotatable oil brake composed of a turning fan in a cylindrical chest lV(Fig. 2) filled with oil and provided with a radial diaphragm. Theresistance opposed by the oil in passing through the clearance spaceleft by the fan, from one to the other chamber formed by the fan in thechest, softens the oscillations of the blade produced by theinstantaneous variations of the velocity of the water striking theblade, variations especially caused by the highest velocities owing to awinding stream and to wavy movements. A connecting pipe between thechambers being provided with a cock allowing the braking action to beregulated. Moreover the hub of the fan is provided with a recess on asector of its periphery through which the oil drops when the deviationsof the blade are small, so that in this case the braking action issuppressed, which is necessary to keep the sensitiveness required evenin the case of low velocities, that is when the stress being smaller theindications of the brake could not be correct. while the braking actionwould not be re quired there being no longer oscillations to be damped.

From the axle E (Figure 5) the move ments are transmitted to the axle Fby means of a chain drive with a further multiplication in general inthe proportion of 6, consequently in totality the deviation of the bladeis multiplied on axle F in the proportion of 6X6:3G. One of theextremities of the chain is fixed to a point of the periphery of thelarger wheel R", the other extremity bearing a counterweight stretchingthe chain and allowing thus the transmission of movement to the smallerwheel r mounted on axle F the chain passing over said wheel afterpassing over intermediate loose pulleys -r,- and r On axle F (Figs. 3and 5) is mounted a cylinder on which a wire coil is wound the ordinatesof which referred to a de termined circumference, taken as a base,represent the velocities v corresponding to each single deviation in aconvenient scale. a

A slider V movable in a plane parallel to the xle of the cylinder iscontrolled by said coil, the displacements of the slider measuring thevelocity V,, in the fixer scale. These displacements can be read in aproper scale 4 (Fig. 3) of the maximum velocities.

The arrangement mentioned to reduce the deviation of the blade in ahorizontal displacement proportioned to the velocity V, easily allowsthe correct-ion of this reduc tion when the apparatus is alreadyinstalled, in case the correction is not right. In fact the copper coilmay be adjusted on the cylinder in various ways, for instance, by fixingand by the friction obtained by stretching the wire bet-ween small endsupports and by means of nuts screwed at the threaded extremities oftheavire.

(2) Device for measuring the Zigm'd section.

The liquid section as above mentioned is measured by means of aflat-shaped iioat G, directly immersed in the channel andhinge-connected-at D, with frame T, rotatable around the fixed axle B(Fig. l). The float consists of two fiat halves of galvanized sheet ironreinforced by an internal frame of wood.

The float besides causing as mentioned, variations in the position ofthe suspension shaft A of the blade according to the water level. andallowing the measurement of the level and liquid section has for itsobject to prevent floating bodies as twigs, branchlets, leaves, etc.from being deposited on the blade the deviation of which might beconsequently changed. The float has been provided on the fore part witha protection suspended thereon, and for the channels entraining manyleaves a protecting casing of thin plate with holes is provided in whichthe blades rod can move. The pro tection rod is rotatable around afulcrum so that it is possible to extract it easily when cleaning'isnecessary.

Opposite the frame B D there is a counterlever BC, acting on acylindrical surface with generatrixes parallel to the axle B, thesurface being guided vertically and controlling a tr .e r I thedisplacements of which measure the liquid sections on a proper scale 6(Fig. 3). Should the banks of the canal be vertical, the liquid sectionswill vary proportionately according to the level. Supposing then thesurface L L is a horizontal plane the vertical displacement of suchsurface will measure the liquid sections in the required scale Z chosento represent 1 square meter of liquid section when:

where a :BCL:width of the canal, then =variation of level correspondingto the (5) Recording dem'ce.

The top part of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 3 (side view), 4(plan view) and 5 (section) constitutes the recording device. In thatpart there are sliding the truck 1 and the runner V already abovementioned, the displacements of which measure respectively inproportionate scale the surface of the liquid section and the maximumvelocity V,,.

The runner Y drives a straight link S V rotatable around S the drivingbeing effected by means of a trolley wheel borne by the runner andsliding in the straight link, which on its turn controls two small.trucks, the one V sliding in a horizontal guide placed at a fixeddistance from S.) (in practice S V 500 mm.), the displacements of whichmeasure (in a scale 1.253 times greater than the V, scale) the middlevelocity V (this is obtained by causing S V to be such that S V LQSXS VXK where ran. an l.25K K the other small truck QZ horizontally slidingin the truck of the liquid sections meas- K then S V lit) SQ av...

where W and Z are the scales chosen for the middle velocity and liquidsection).

If K results constant practically as it is the usual case it will besuflicient to regulate the distance S V to a constant value according tothe value of K; but on the contrary if K varies according to the levelthe distance S V will have to be conveniently varied, which is obtainedas follows:

The registration of the quantity of water on a proper clock-work rolleris obtained by causing the writing stylus to reproduce the displacementsof the truck QZreduced however in a fixed proportioned 1, so that theregistration results in a smaller scale requiring thus a recordingroller of a smaller height.

The transmission of the movement to the stylus is effected by means of arectangular frame HKLM rotatable around the axle HK by means of a bufferZ of the truck QZ, the side LM of the frame bearing on the buffer, saidside consisting of a small cylindrical rod, a spring convenientlyoperating on axle HK.

The axle HK is on the middle line of the maximum displacement of Z sothat the end positions of the frame corresponding to P 0 and Pzmaximumresult symmetric.

The projection of the arc of the circle accomplished by'M parallel tothe front of the apparatus and consequently to the displacement of truckQZ evidently results equal to the displacement of the same truck. Thedisplacement of the stylus however measures such projection reduced inthe ratio 7", the stylus being united to a small connecting rod 00joining two points 0-0 of the two parallel levers and HM such as HOHOzHM as r. In such a way the reduction mentioned at the ratio 1 isobtained.

The stylus owing to said arrangement is always held parallel to itself.According however to the position of frame. HKLM the stylus wouldapproach the recording roller or run a great distance from the same. Toremedy this the stylus is articulated and kept adherent to the roller bya small spring. This arrangement only alters very lightly the hourregistered by the stylus in some positions of the frame HKLM, but in aquite discernible way. The alteration may be rendered the least possibleby causing the pointof contact of the stylus on the roller to lie on themiddle line on the maximum cross displacement of the fulcrum of thestylus and choosing for the stylus a suspension rod sufiiciently long.

Vmvmlig in the scale Arrangement when if 2'8 variable.

where A and B are coefficient depending on the nature of the bankssurface and consequently constant for a determinate channel, It beingthe middle radius. Infact for the 5 types of channels mentioned by Bazinthe following values for A and B are obtained:

I Channels with very smooth walls A=150 10 B=4, 5X10 II Channels withsmooth walls =190X10; B=13, 3X10 III Channels with slightly rough wallsA=240 B=X10 IV Earth channels -A=280X10; B=350 10 V Channels and riverswith gravel A=400 10 B =700X 10' On the base of such values for A and Bthe following values correspond to the different middle radiuses:

Values of K.

Middle radius R.

Type of the Channel 0,40 0,50 0,60 0,80 1,00 2,00 3,00 6,00

0, 05 0, 85 0, 85 0, S4 0, 84 0. 83 O, 81 0, 82 0, t! 0, 77 0, 78 0, 800, 72 0, 74 0, 76

From this chart it is seen that for walled channels with a middle radiusabove 0,40 the ratio K does not generally vary beyond 1% (exceptionally2% for small channels of III type), variations of the middle radius evenfrom 1 to 2 variations being included, corresponding to level variationseven at a higher ratio, because the middle radius as it might be easilyproved always varies more slowly than the level. This variation of K isthen not worth considering it being included between the limits of theunavoidable errors of the apparatus and it is suflicient to regulate thedistance S V on the base of a fixed invariable value in relation to thecharacteristic value of the ratio K for the channel where the apparatusis placed.

To render however the apparatus also applicable in the case the ratio Kcannot be considered as constant, the channels being of earth or gravelor covered channels in which the level and consequently the middleradius vary to a great extent, the apparatus is provided with a deviceallowing to take into account even an eventual variation of K acc rdingto the level.

To this purpose it is evidently sunicient to cause the distance S V tovary according to the level. This has been attained as above mentionedby a system NN of levers and cams conveniently shaped driven by thetruck of the liquid section I by which sys tem the roller with the screwis operated up and down, the V scale varying consequently the distance SV according to the level.

It is however necessary that notwithstanding such displacement therotation of the registering roller benot altered so that to a determinedvariation of the blade always corresponds the same rotation of theroller with the screw and then the same position of the runner V drivenby the roller. To this effect the driving chain passes on an auxiliarypulley r (Fig. 5) before passing on the pulley 9", of the roller, theposition of the axle of pulley r being regulated as follows:

It is to be premised that the whole bulk of the roller with the screwthe guide of the runner V comprised is borne by the vertical connectingrods of two equal parallelograms TTUU and T T U and U placed on bothsides of the apparatus of which only the first is shown in Fig. 5. Tosecure that the deformation of both parallelograms is absolutelyidentical the corresponding upper levers are rigidly connected by across bar. The whole bulk of the roller may run on said connecting rodsand be fixed at a height whatever according to the value of K. Thedriving pulley of roller 9", has its axle lying in the vertical planedetermined by the axles of the twoconnecting rods while the pulley r iasan axle sliding on proper guides in the vertical plane determined by thestraight lines oining the centers U UU U Consequently if the position ofpulley 1 is regulated in such a way that its center lies on the parallelto the axles of cranks TU-T U passing the center of pulley 1 this centerwill describe around the center of 1' a circle of a radius equal to thelength of the cranks of the parallelograms. Consequently the two pulleysbeing identical and joined by a chain and their distance beinginvariable, the pulley 1", will not rotate whatever may be thedeformation of the parallelograms till r rotates of the same angle inthe case of rotation securing thus the perfect transmission of therotation of the blade whatever may be the position of theparallelograms.

As the entire roller is always shifted in a direction parallel its axisowing to both the'parallelograms so no rotation of the guide of therunner with respect to the roller will take place and consequently noteven the transmission to the runner V will be influenced by thevariation of the position of the parallelograms according to theregulation of the distance S V in reference to the value of K.

(4) Integrating dem'ce.

[in integratin device is joined to the apparatus allowing to obtain thecubic meters of water flowing in a determined time.

A device is contained in a cylindrical chest Y laterally connected tothe apparatus by means of a. supporting arm.

Through this arm there passes a small connecting rod guided at one endon a straight line parallel to the displacement of QZ, at the otner endcontrolled by a pivot M placed in the center of the lever HM. To the endguided on a straight line there is a normal registering device of theroller type adopted in the electricity meters. This registering deviceis driven by a planimetric wheel d?iven by a disc through frictioncontained in said cylindrical chest, the disc rotating by means of aclock-work. The displacements of the connecting rods end guided on astraight line evidently result equally to the half of the displacementsof Q and consequently in proportion to the quantities of water.

The revolutions of the planimetric roller will be in proportion to thedisplacement of it from the center of the disc (this displacement beingproportioned to the quantity of water) and in proportion to the numberof revolutions that is to the time. They will consequently measure thetotal volumes flown.

hat I claim is:

1. An improved apparatus for indiating the flow of water in channelscomprising a fixed frame-work, a float connected with the framework, ablade mechanically connected with the fioat in such manner that theposition of the float substantially controls the depth of the immersionof the blade, said blade being adapted to receive deviationscorresponding to the speed of the water striking, calculating devicesassociated with the blade and float, and means for transmittingdeviations of the blade and the movements of the float to thecalculating devices, said calculating devices being designed to allowfor the known shape of the channel and functioning to automaticallyindicate the quantity of water flowing in the channel.

2. An improved apparatus for indicating the flow of water in channels,comprising a fixed framework, a float connected by a rotatable arm tothe framework, a blade mechanically connected to said rotatable arm insuch a manner, that the position of the float substantially controls thedepth of the immersion of the blade, said blade being adapted to everylevel at the point of maximum speed, and to receive deviationscorresponding to the speed of the water striking, calculating deviceassociated with the blade and float, andrmeans for transmitting saiddeviations of said blade correspondingly to the difl'erent speeds andthe movements of the float correspondingly to the different levels andconsequently to the different liquid sections, said calculating devicebeing designed to allow for the known section of the channelandfunctioning to indicate and record the product of maximum speedmultiplied with ratio K and with liquid section,

- ratio middle speed maximum speed blade is transmitted into adisplacement proportional to the velocity of the water by means of a camconsisting of a coil wound tightly upon the roller, whereby the form ofthe cam may be readily changed when desired.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a frame pivotallyconnected to said fixed framework and to said float, said blade beingmounted upon said frame.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in. which the deviation of theblade is transmitted to a parallelogram system of rods, so that thistransmission will be independent of the position of the float.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

CORRADO PUCCIONI.

